A well known, inspirational racial activist, Martin Luther King Jr. is persuasive in his letter entitled “Letter From Birmingham City Jail.” In his letter, he demands that there should be equality for all people. King’s purpose is to persuade the other clergymen to fight for freedom for all the people of color. In his letter, King develops a bitter yet hopeful tone in order to accomplish equality amongst everyone. King effectively achieves his goal of persuading the others through his use of his tone, rhetorical appeals, and rhetorical tools. In King’s letter he uses a bitter and hopeful tone to persuade others to join in for the fight. He is trying to persuade them to fight for the rights for everyone. “If you would watch them push and
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The use of rhetorical appeals provides emotion in his letter and a sense of credibility. “I don’t believe you have so warmly commended the police” (2). King is outraged that the clergymen have been applauding the police for all that they have been contributing to stop the civil disobedience. He uses pathos to make the clergymen think about what they have been supporting. King cannot comprehend what his brothers have been praising: “To preserve the evil sense of segregation” (3). He is making them contemplate what they have been condoning. He is making them feel guilt for what they have been in support of. He provides a sense of innocence when he claims: “Nonviolently sitting-in at lunch counters and willingly going to jail for conscience’s sake” (4). King is implying that he and the protesters have done nothing wrong and yet have been punished. The clergymen have ridiculed King for standing up for his rights. Along with using pathos to provide the feeling of guilt he also uses ethos. He uses many allusions to other famous people. “TS Elliot said there is not greater treason than to do the right deed for the wrong person” (3). He uses TS Elliot, a famous writer, to emphasize his ideas and that others support his ideas. King is arguing that the clergymen should defend him instead of supporting the police who are using brutal force. King also uses James Meredith: “ James Meredith courageously and with a majestic sense of purpose facing jeering hostile mobs” (4). James Meredith was the first African American to attend the University of Mississippi. He uses James Meredith because he started a movement. He was the first to integrate inside an all white school. He is providing examples of heroes who have started the change. “My feet is tired but my soul is rested” (4). Mother Pollard is a woman who boycotted the buses for the civil rights movement. She walked everywhere so she could grasp a sense of peace for
The use of rhetorical appeals provides emotion in his letter and a sense of credibility. “I don’t believe you have so warmly commended the police” (2). King is outraged that the clergymen have been applauding the police for all that they have been contributing to stop the civil disobedience. He uses pathos to make the clergymen think about what they have been supporting. King cannot comprehend what his brothers have been praising: “To preserve the evil sense of segregation” (3). He is making them contemplate what they have been condoning. He is making them feel guilt for what they have been in support of. He provides a sense of innocence when he claims: “Nonviolently sitting-in at lunch counters and willingly going to jail for conscience’s sake” (4). King is implying that he and the protesters have done nothing wrong and yet have been punished. The clergymen have ridiculed King for standing up for his rights. Along with using pathos to provide the feeling of guilt he also uses ethos. He uses many allusions to other famous people. “TS Elliot said there is not greater treason than to do the right deed for the wrong person” (3). He uses TS Elliot, a famous writer, to emphasize his ideas and that others support his ideas. King is arguing that the clergymen should defend him instead of supporting the police who are using brutal force. King also uses James Meredith: “ James Meredith courageously and with a majestic sense of purpose facing jeering hostile mobs” (4). James Meredith was the first African American to attend the University of Mississippi. He uses James Meredith because he started a movement. He was the first to integrate inside an all white school. He is providing examples of heroes who have started the change. “My feet is tired but my soul is rested” (4). Mother Pollard is a woman who boycotted the buses for the civil rights movement. She walked everywhere so she could grasp a sense of peace for